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Reasons for COVID-19 vaccine rejection: A qualitative study

Year 2025, Volume: 16 Issue: Erken Çevrimiçi Yayınlar
https://doi.org/10.31067/acusaglik.1528424

Abstract

Objective
The aim of this study was to investigate the reasons for refusal of those who refused to be vaccinated with any of the vaccines developed against COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease) and to offer solutions.
Materials and Methods
In this descriptive and cross-sectional qualitative study, a semi-structured interview method was used as the data collection tool. Also, thematic analysis was chosen as the analysis method. The population of the study consisted of people who had not been vaccinated against COVID-19. The purposive sampling method was used as the sampling method. Informed consent was obtained from the participants. This study was continued until data saturation was achieved and the interviews were completed with 12 people.
Results
As a result of the study, six main themes and sub-themes related to the reasons for these refusals against vaccination were reached. These themes are Individual Effects of COVID- 19, Information, Confusion about Vaccination, Personal Fears of Vaccination, Belief in the Protectiveness and Reliability of the COVID-19 Vaccine, Pressure on Vaccination and Mask Use, and Preference for Vaccination Alternatives.
Conclusion
During pandemics, distrust and uncertainty are often among the reasons why people do not get vaccinated. Lessons need to be learned from the process carried out, as one of the most important reasons underlying vaccine refusal is that participants did not believe in either the COVID-19 disease or the vaccine. Because this situation increased uncertainty and triggered non-vaccination. Accordingly, it is necessary to carry out health services for vaccination and increasing social immunity more transparently, to ensure that the society has access to sufficient information about the vaccine, and to determine and implement appropriate policies to eliminate mistrust about the vaccine and the pandemic period.

References

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  • 5. Kahraman EP, Altındiş M. COVID-19 vaccines; towards the end of the pandemic, J Biotechinol & Strategic Health Res. 2020, 4(3): 240-249.
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  • 8. Hasar M, Özer ZY, Bozdemir N. Reasons for vaccine refusal and opinions about vaccines. Cukurova Medical Journal, 2021, 46(1):166-176.
  • 9. Doğan Ü. Opinions on Eği̇ti̇m and Working Conditions of Ai̇le Heki̇mliğiği Specialt Students in Turkey, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Specialty Thesis, Konya: Necmettin Erbakan University, 2020.
  • 10. Dinçer M. Experiences of Healthcare Workers Applying Resuscitation to Palliative Care Patients. Ankara Medical Journal. 2019, 19(1): 21-31.
  • 11. Yılmaz Hİ, Turğut B, Çıtlak G, Mert O, Paralı B, Engin M, et al. People's perception of COVID-19 vaccine in Turkey. Dicle Medical Journal, 2021, 48(3): 583-594.
  • 12. Wu KK, Chan SK, Ma TM. Post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression in survivors of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). J Trauma Stress, 2005, 18(1):39-42.
  • 13. Jones JH, Salathé M. Early assessment of anxiety and behavioral response to novel swine-origin influenza a(H1N1), PLoS One, 2009, 4(12): 8032.
  • 14. Çapanoğlu E. A Qualitative Research on the Rejection of Childhood Vaccines from the Perspective of Health Workers and Parents, Institute of Health Sciences, Master's Thesis, Istanbul: Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University, 2018.
  • 15. Çıtak G, Aksoy ÖD. An important obstacle in vaccination: vaccine refusal. ERU Faculty of Health Sciences Journal, 2020, 7(2):15-20.
Year 2025, Volume: 16 Issue: Erken Çevrimiçi Yayınlar
https://doi.org/10.31067/acusaglik.1528424

Abstract

References

  • 1. Lu R, Zhao X, Li J, Niu P, Yang B, Wu H, et al. Genomic characterisation and epidemiology of 2019 novel coronavirus: implications for virus origins and receptor binding, Lancet, 2020, 395(10224): 565-574.
  • 2. World Health Organization. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019. September 18, 2022.
  • 3. Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health COVID-19 Vaccine Information Platform. COVID-19 Vaccine National Implementation Strategy. https://covid19 asi.saglik.gov.tr/TR-77706/covid-19-asisi- national-uygulama- stratejisi.html. September 18, 2022.
  • 4. Mutesi H. Knowledge and Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccine: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study Among Residents of Jinja District, Eastern Uganda, Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Master's Thesis, Denizli: Pamukkale University, 2021.
  • 5. Kahraman EP, Altındiş M. COVID-19 vaccines; towards the end of the pandemic, J Biotechinol & Strategic Health Res. 2020, 4(3): 240-249.
  • 6. MacDonald NE, Eskola J, Liang X, Chaudhuri M, Dube E, Gellin B, et al. Vaccine hesitancy: definition, scope and determinants, Vaccine. 2015, 33(34):4161-4164.
  • 7. Çıtak G, Aksoy ÖD. An important obstacle in vaccination: vaccine refusal. ERU Journal of Health Science Faculty, 2020, 7(2):15-20.
  • 8. Hasar M, Özer ZY, Bozdemir N. Reasons for vaccine refusal and opinions about vaccines. Cukurova Medical Journal, 2021, 46(1):166-176.
  • 9. Doğan Ü. Opinions on Eği̇ti̇m and Working Conditions of Ai̇le Heki̇mliğiği Specialt Students in Turkey, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Specialty Thesis, Konya: Necmettin Erbakan University, 2020.
  • 10. Dinçer M. Experiences of Healthcare Workers Applying Resuscitation to Palliative Care Patients. Ankara Medical Journal. 2019, 19(1): 21-31.
  • 11. Yılmaz Hİ, Turğut B, Çıtlak G, Mert O, Paralı B, Engin M, et al. People's perception of COVID-19 vaccine in Turkey. Dicle Medical Journal, 2021, 48(3): 583-594.
  • 12. Wu KK, Chan SK, Ma TM. Post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression in survivors of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). J Trauma Stress, 2005, 18(1):39-42.
  • 13. Jones JH, Salathé M. Early assessment of anxiety and behavioral response to novel swine-origin influenza a(H1N1), PLoS One, 2009, 4(12): 8032.
  • 14. Çapanoğlu E. A Qualitative Research on the Rejection of Childhood Vaccines from the Perspective of Health Workers and Parents, Institute of Health Sciences, Master's Thesis, Istanbul: Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University, 2018.
  • 15. Çıtak G, Aksoy ÖD. An important obstacle in vaccination: vaccine refusal. ERU Faculty of Health Sciences Journal, 2020, 7(2):15-20.
There are 15 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Health Care Administration
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Ayşe Gül Kahya 0000-0002-5117-2211

Metin Dinçer 0000-0003-4598-945X

Early Pub Date March 21, 2025
Publication Date
Submission Date August 5, 2024
Acceptance Date December 3, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2025Volume: 16 Issue: Erken Çevrimiçi Yayınlar

Cite

EndNote Kahya AG, Dinçer M (March 1, 2025) Reasons for COVID-19 vaccine rejection: A qualitative study. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 16 Erken Çevrimiçi Yayınlar